December 21, 2008 (JUBA) – The President of the Government of Southern Sudan (GoSS) and Commander-in-Chief of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA), General Salva Kiir Mayardit, has issued a Presidential Decree appointing Nhial Deng Nhial as Minister for SPLA Affairs.

The appointment comes after statement by the Governor of Lakes State, Kuol Manyang Juuk, that he had been approached by Salva Kiir to fill the vacant important position since the death of the former SPLA Affairs Minister, late Dominic Dim Deng who died in a plane crash on May 2, 2008.